Alarm telegraph system.



No. 723,199 PATENTED MAR. 17,1903. A. GOLDST-EIN.

ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1900.

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U ITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT GOLDSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL FRANK, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ALA'RM'TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,199, dated March17, 1903.

Application filedApril 21, 1900.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT GOLDSTEIN, a citizen of the United'States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Telegraph Systems,of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvementin alarm telegraph systems wherein anumber of pri- IO mary alarm -transmitting circuits are connectedthrough relays with a secondary alarmtransmitting circuit whichtransmitsalarms from all the primary circuits. Such a system isespecially applicable where it is practicable to utilize the wires of atelephone-exchange system for the transmission of alarm-signals. Theprimary circuits in the system as disclosed are normally open groundedcircuits, which are branches from a common battery, though they might besupplied from separate batteries, and the alarm-signals are given bysuccessive momentary closures on the primary circuits,-which indicatedistinctive numbers.

In such a system as defined above more than a momentary closure of anyone of the primary circuits, such as would result from the accidentalgrounding of the wire, would prevent the transmission of an alarm-signal39 from any other primary circit, and the entire system would bedisabled while the ground remainedon the wire. 1

The object of this invention is to prevent the disablement of any oneprimary circuit 3 5 from interfering with the normal transmission ofalarm-signals by the other primary circuits. This is effected by aslow-acting cutout switch operating in conjunction with the relay ineach primary circuit. This switch 40 by reason of itsslow action is notoperated by the normal momentary currents which are employed in sendingalarms; but the abnormal operation of the relay by the presence of acurrent of longer duration, such as 5 a continuous ground, causes theswitch to operate and cuts off the control of the secondaryalarm-transmitting circuit by the relay, so that this secondary circuitwill be in a condition to receive signals from any of the primarycircuits. I

In the accompanying drawing, which forms Serial No. 13,798. (No model.)

a part of this specification, the figure shows the invention in the formof slow-actingmercury cut-out switches attached to the relayarmaturesinan alarm telegraph system which is applied to a common-batterytelephoneexchauge system.

The system, as shown in the diagram, is a combined telephone-exchangeand alarm system in which the telephone-lines are utilized for thetransmission of alarm-signals from various points within a territorycovered by the telephone-exchange system to an alarm receivingheadquarters by means, of suitable local transmitting apparatus andrepeating apparatus connected to the telephone-lines, but so constructedthat they willnot interfere with the telephone signaling or talkingcurrents or the sets of the local telephone apparatus at the variouspoints. The leads of the telephone-subscribers circuits which cometogether in a telephone-exchange are used for the two distinct andindependent classes of service of telephoning between telephonesubscribers and transmitting signals to an alarm-receiving headquarters.This second service is by way of distinction termed an alarm service.The sets of apparatus at various points from which signals can be sentare termed sets of local alarm-transmitting 8o apparatus, and theapparatus at the point to which the signals are sent. is termed thealarm-receiving apparatus. These terms, however, are not intended tolimit the claims to systems in which the signals are distinctlyalarm-signals, since the system is equally applicable to thetransmission of signals for any purpose.

In the system as illustrated the telephonesubscribers sets 1, of whichbut one is shown, are connected to a common-battery telephoneexchange bythe battery-leads 2 and grounded leads 3, which form thetelephone-subscribers circuitsand connect the subscribers sets with theopen-terminal spring-jacks 4 and the 5 grounded common battery 5. Thebatteryleads are connected through line-signal relays 6 to the liveterminal of the common battery, and the grounded leads are connected tothe grounded terminal of the common battery. top The line-signal relaysclose circuits through line-signal lamps 7. In front of the springjacksfor each circuit are test-rings 8, which are connected through anexchange-cut-ofi relay 9 to the grounded terminal of the common battery.The insertion of the'usnal exchange cord-circuitplug in the jack of atele= phone-subscribers circuit connects the testring with the liveterminal of the battery, and the cut-off relay shifts the connections ofthe grounded lead of the telephone-subscribers circuit to ground througha repeating-coil in the cord-circuit and shifts the connections of thebattery-lead of the telephone-subscribers circuit in the batterythroughan other repeating-coil in the cord-circuit, as described in UnitedStates Patent No. 647,588, dated April The alarm system and the mannerin which the telephone-circuits are utilized for the transmission ofalarm-signals will now be described.

At convenient points within the territory covered by the exchange aresets of local alarm-transmitting apparatus, each consisting either of asignaling-wheel and mechanism for operating it man nally or otherwise ora telegraph-key 11. Each of these is connected to the battery-lead ofany telephonesu'bscribers circuit which may be conveniently nearandeffects connection between with the coils balanced in the two leads.

one coil only of the relay, and it will attract its armature. As, forinstance, suppose a signal be sent in by key 11 or wheel 10 the circuitwill be as follows: from ground to wire 2, one coil of relay 12, wire 2,line-relay 6, wires 2, battery 5, and ground. Each relay12controlscontacts 13, which arein multiple in an alarm-transmitting circuit whichincludes wire 14, relay 18, part of wire 3, battery 5, and part of wire2. The closure of the contact at any relay 12 therefore closes thisalarm-transmitting circuit. In series with each relay-contact is acontact 15 of a slow-acting mercury cut-out switch 16, which is mountedon the relay-armature. This switch consists of two bulbs connected by asmall tube and partly filled with mercury. The contact-wires are fusedinto the top of one of the bulbs. The bulbs are so mounted on thearmature that when the armature is away from the relay-magnet themercury will touch the ends of the contact-wires; but if the armature isdrawn up and held for a sufiicient length of time the mercury will flowslowly from the bulb containing the contacts into the other bulb and thecontacts will be opened. Between the closure of the alarm-transmittingcircuit at the relay-contact and the opening of this circuit by themercury cut-out switch there is suflicient time to send an impulse suchas is requisite in sending a signal. In event of any current comingontoa line 2, which would operate its alarm-repeating relay, andremaining on this mercury cut-out switch will operate and open thatbranch of the alarm transmitting circuit which is through therelay-contact, so that signals received on other alarm-repeating relays12 can be repeated on this alarm-transmitting circuit. The purpose ofthe cut-out switch is therefore to prevent the complete disabling of theentire alarm system through the individual disabling by the continuousgrounding of or the presence of aforeign current in the live lead of anyone of the telephone-circuits which is utilized for transmittingalarmsignals.

In the system shown the primary circuits are normally open circuits. Thecontinued closure of any one causes the operation of its slow-actingswitch; but the cut-out switch is equally applicable in connection witha system made up of normally closed primary circuits, in which case itwould merely be necessary to substitute relays with contacts on theother sides of the armatures. In this case the cessation of current inone of the primary circuits would cause an abnormal operation of therelay and the operation of the cut-out switch. In the system shown thesecondary circuit under immediate control of the relays is also anormally open circuit. The contacts controlled by the relays are inmultiple in this circuit and a cut-out switch is in series with eachcircuit; but the cut-out switch is equally applicable in connection witha system wherein the secondary circuit is a normally closed circuit, inwhich case it would be necessary to put the relay-contacts in series andarrange the cut-out switches so that on operating they will bridge thesecontacts.

The alarm-transmitting circuit 14 operates the relay 18. This relaycontrols the closed circuit 19, which extends to the alarm-headquarters,and operates a relay 20, which controls the'local circuit of thealarm-receiving apparatus 21.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. The combination of a series of primary circuits,a localalarm-transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit, a relay in eachcircuit, a secondary alarm-transmitting circuit at the exchange which iscontrolled by any of the relays, a source of electricity, a slowactingcut-out switch operating in conjunction with each relay to cut off thecontrol of the secondary alarm-transmitting circuit by the relaywhenever there is more than the too - operated from thealarm-transmitting circuit,

substantially as described. 2. The combination of a series of primarycircuits, alocal alarm-transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit,a relay in each circuit, a secondary alarm-transmitting circuit at theexchange which is controlled by any of the relays, a source ofelectricity, a slowacting cut-out switch operating in conjunction witheach relay to cut off the control of the secondary alarm-transmittingcircuit by the relay whenever there is more-than the normal momentaryoperation of the relay, and automatically restoring the control ofthe-relay upon the cessation of the trouble causing the abnormaloperation of the relay, and an alarm-receiving apparatus which is tejzsoperated from the alarm-transmitting circuit, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of a series of primary circuits, a localalarm-transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit, a relay in eachciremit, a secondary alarm-transmitting circuit at the exchange which iscontrolled by any of the relays, a source of electricity, a slow-actingmercury cut-out switch operating in conjunction with each relay to cutoff the control of the secondary alarm-transmitting circuit by the relaywhenever there is more than the normal momentary operation of the relay,

1 and automatically restoring the control of the relay upon thecessation of the trouble causing the abnormal operation of the relay,and an alarm-receiving apparatus which is operated from thealarm-transmittingcircuit, substantially as described."

4, The combination of sets of telephone apparatus, a telephone-exchange,telephonecircuits connecting the sets of telephone apparatus withthe-telephone-exchange, a local alarm-transmitting apparatus connectedto one of the leads of each telephone-circuit, a relay in each telephonecircuit, the relays being at the exchange and responsive to cur' rentscontrolled by the sets of local alarmtransmitting apparatus and not tothe telephone signaling and talking currents, an alarm-transmittingcircuitat the exchange whichis controlled by any of the relays, aslow-acting cut-out switch operating in conjunction with each relay to.cut 0% the control of the alarm-transmitting circuit by the relaywhenever there is more than the normal. momentary operation of therelay, and an alarm-receiving apparatus which is operatedfrom thealarm-transmitting circuit,

substantially as described.

5. The combination of sets of telephone apparatus, a telephone exchange,telephonecircuits connecting the sets of telephone apj paratus with thetelephone-exchange, alocal alarm-transmitting apparatus connected to oneof the leads of eachtelephone-circuit, a relay in eachtelephone-circuit, the relays being at the exchange and responsive toour- "abnormal operation of the relay, and an alarm-receiving apparatuswhich is operated from the alarm-transmitting circuit, substantially'asdescribed.

6. The combination of sets of telephone apparatus, a telephone-exchange, telephonecircuits connecting the sets of telephone apparatuswith the telephone-exchange, a local alarm transmitting apparatusconnected to one of the leads of each telephone-circuit, a relay in eachtelephone-circuit, the relays being at the exchange and responsive tocurrents controlled by the sets of local alarmtransmitting apparatus andnot to the telephone signaling and talking currents, analarm-transmitting circuit'at the exchange which is controlled by any ofthe relays, a slow-acting mercury cut-out switch operating inconjunction with each relay to cut ofi the control of thealarm-transmitting circuit by the relay whenever there is more than thenormal momentary operation of the relay, and an alarm-receivingapparatus which is operated from the alarm-transmittin g circuit,substantially as described.

7. The combination of sets of telephone apparatus, a telephone-exchange,telephonecircuits connecting the sets of telephone apparatus with thetelephone-exchange, a local alarm-transmitting apparatus connected toone of the leads of each telephone-circuit, a

relay in each telephone-circuit, the relays being at the exchange andresponsive to currents controlled by the setsof local alarmtransmittingapparatus and not to the telephone signaling and talking currents, analarmtransmitting circuit at the exchange which is controlled by any ofthe relays, a slow-acting mercury cut-out switch operated by thearmature of each relay to cut off the control of the alarm-transmittingcircuit by the relay whenever there is more than the normal momentaryoperation ofthe relay, and automatically restoring the control of therelay upon the cessation of the trouble causing the abnormal operationof the relay, and an alarm-receiving apparatus which is operated fromthe alarm-transmitting circuit, substantially as described. a

Signed by me in New York city, borough of Manhattan, on the 14th day ofApril, 1900.

. ALBERT GOLDSTEIN. Witnesses: i

THOMAS EWING, J r., SAMUEL W. BALCH.

